2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Lives Interrupted, the Tred Avon Players final production of the current season, salutes our greatest generation for their sacrifices, literally placing their lives on hold to fight a war between good and evil. Opening Oct. 22 and directed by Alex Handy, it also provides an opportunity to honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve and protect our country through military service. Originally presented in 2010, Lives Interrupted played to sold-out audiences—including an added, unscheduled performance–throughout its run at the Oxford Community Center.
Theatergoers will also have the opportunity to see an extraordinary collection of never-before-seen World War II photographs taken by the late Norman Harrington of Oxford. The exhibition, “Up Close: WWII Through the Lens of Norman Harrington,” is sponsored by the Oxford Museum in partnership with the Oxford Community Center and the Tred Avon Players and will be on display at the OCC through November 8. The exhibition begins with a special talk on Saturday, October 17, at 4 p.m. by Lisa Harrington, Norman Harrington’s daughter.
Dates for performances of Lives Interrupted are Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 6, 7 at 8 p.m., and Nov.11 (Veterans Day) at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. “Thrifty Thursday,” featuring two-for-one tickets Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. Visit www.tredavonplayers.org to buy tickets online or call 410-226-0061 to reserve seats.
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Hall says
Memories of a ten year old during WWII
Saturday morning no more time to read
Time to go on my newspaper collection route
I pick up my bike, look at my twin’s nicer one
Will I always be Dad’s second choice
On the road and headed for my last stop
The nice lady comes to the door and asks me in
As she looks through her purse, the door rings
An Army officer stands on the doorstep
He hands her a yellow envelope
She screams, I run to the door
The Army officer is running to his brown car
She screams again
I go to her and she says:
“Oh my God, He’s dead”
She hands me the message
Her husband has been killed on a Pacific Island
I stand horrified
“Please stay with me” she says
We go to the kitchen
The lady pours each of us a cup of coffee
“Why did he have to die?” she yells
“Why him”
“Why now”
“What am I going to do?”
“Why did that officer leave without telling me more”
I don’t have answers
She holds my hand
We talk for a while in low voices
She cries less, just staring
Finally she says “you can go now, thank you for staying”
The ride home is slow
I have so many questions
Why did the man die
Why didn’t the Army explain more
Why did the officer run away
What is going to happen to the lady
I’ll talk to Mom about this
She will know
Back home I put away my bike
Sure wish it was nice as Brad’s
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Background issues
During WWII, all new bicycles were delivered to the armed forces, here and abroad.
Huge second hand market. Our bikes were purchased out of town and delivered by train.
This event took place Saturday morning in August of 1944, shortly after two major battles in the pacific. The Battle of Guam Island 21 July 1944 and theBattle of Tinian Island 24 July 1944 It was most likely Guam- As a our former military base, it had major infrastructure completed and communications available. Tinian one of a chain of few inhabitants in the isolated Mariana Islands Group and lacked direct communications.
The Army casualty notification policy was to send a telegram to the nearest military post. The telegram was to be delivered to the next of kin by an officer accompanied by a local priest or minister. OR if possible, a neighbor OR another military. Delivery was supposed to be accompanied by a short comforting message, and if possible, with minor details of the soldiers death, above all to express the sorrow and grief of the military as well.